Gov. M. Jodi Rell blinked first.
The big stare-down that was the state budget negotiations took a dramatic turn last week when Rell — working off a newly agreed upon deficit figure — said tax increases would be part of any new budget plan.
The governor was quick to point out that she had never ruled out “talking revenue,” once all possible spending cuts were made. To no one’s surprise, Democrats hailed the Rell rollover as a “watershed moment” in the budget negotiations. They say Rell finally came to grips with the fiscal reality facing the state.
In reality, Rell caved on the possibility of raising taxes because she’s never been a principled politician prepared to rise or fall based on a strong set of values. In some ways, one can’t blame Rell for walking the center line all these years. Staking out the middle ground and presenting a non-threatening grandmotherly façade has certainly served her well with the electorate.
Tax increases, of course, would ultimately hit the working people of this state — including small-business owners — the hardest. They’ll also help drive companies out of business and business owners out of Connecticut.
Rell, as early as February and as late as June, has consistently said throughout the budget discussions that raising taxes was a mistake in this economic climate.
The greater mistake might have been believing that Rell would not be worn down by political opponents.
